Check protector



Feb. 9, 1932. J. w. CARLSON 3 5 I CHECK PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 24. 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet l 9 3MUM Feb. 9, 1932. J. w. CARLSON 1,844,203

CHECK PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 24. 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 9, 1932. J. w. CARLSON 1@344,2@3

CHECK PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 24. 1927 7 sheets-sheet s Feb. 9, 1932. J. w. CARLSON CHECK PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 24. 1927 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. W. CARLSON CHECK PROTECTOR Feb. 9, 1932.

Filed Dec. 24. 192'? 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 .1. W. CARLSON CHECK PROTECTOR Feb; 9,

Ill? PIIIIIII.

Filed Dec. 24. 192'? 7 Sheets-Sheet 6,

Feb. 9, 1932. J. w. CARLSON 1,344,203

CHECK PROTECTOR Filed Dec. 24.]192'7 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Feb. 9, 1932 Jonnw. GARLSON, or CHICAGO, ILLInoIs, ASSIGNOB. T0 HEDMAN MANUFACTURING CGMPANY, or CnrCAeo, ILLINOIS, A oonrona'rzon or ILLINOIS 9 CHECK rnornoron Application filed December24, 1927. Serial No. 242,469.

My invention relates, generally, to check protectors and more particularly to machines for printing andscarifymg the amount 111 dicla upon Checks or other negotiable instruments in a manner so as to prevent their 211- teration. The machine of my invention is of the class known as the 10-key type and has, among its salient features, the provision of an improved form of set-up and operating mechanism. More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved form of set-up mechanism of the iO-key type in which the printing type may be difierentially positioned with a-minimum of. efiort and with great rapidity.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved set-up mechanism in which the depression of a key serves to position a stop and release a type carrying element simultaneously so that all .or the type carrying elements are positioned in printing position after the last digit key has been depressed.

A further object is to provide an improved means for resetting the type sectors.

A further obj ectof my invention is to provide an improved escapement and type carrying element release mechanism.

A further object is to provide an improved means for indicating the'amount set up prior to the printing operation.

A further obj ect is to provide an improved operating mechanism.

7 Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had :to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete check writing machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the casing removed;

Fig. :3 is a right side elevation of the machine, a portion of the casing being removed more clearly to show the interior construction;

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are longitudinal sections of the machine taken on the lines 44, .5- 5, 66, and 77, respectively, of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a facsimile of a portion of a check with the amount indicia printed by means of the machine of my invention.

The machine of my invention is designed particularly to imprint the amount indicia upon negotiable instruments such as checks, drafts, bonds, notes and other similar instruments, but, since its main use is in protecting checks, the term checks will herein be used to include all similar instruments.

The machine, generally,comprises a set-up mechanism composed of a plurality of digit keys, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, .6, 7, 8, 9, a dollars key, and a cents key; a repeat key is also provided to permit the retention of the amount set up in the event that a plurality of checks of the same amount are desired to be printed; a differential stop mechanism actuated by the keys which serves to limit the movement of rotatable discs each of which carries type corresponding .to the digit and. dollars and cents keys; an indicator or register upon which the amount set up is indicated; escapement and type disc releasing mechanism which serves to release the type sectors in their proper order; and mechanism for oper ating the machine to cause the printing impression. Inking means for the type arenot shown herein but maybe of the general type disclosed in the United States Letters Patent to. Carl M. Hedman, No. 1,708,106, granted February 26, 1929.

The'machine illustrated comprises a base casting 10' mounted on suitable rubber feet 12. A platen 14 'havinga serrated or similar roughened face is adjustably mounted upon a plate 16 which is secured to the base 10. A pair of resilient check guides 18 and 20 are secured to the top of the base casting 10 and are adapted to guide the check over the platen 14 and to raise the check from the platen after it has been printed and scarilied. Due to the fact that the check 00- casionally tends to adhere to the platen because of the sharp points of the platen, some such means for removing the check from the platen is desirable. These guides 18 and 20 are sufficiently resilient so as not to interfere with the operation of the machine as the printing head is brought downwardly, as will hereinafter appear.

A pair of right and left-hand castings 22 and 24 having forwardly projectingarms 26 Gilt are secured to the base casting 10 and provide supports for the moving portions of the machine. These castings are secured to the base at points sufiiciently separated to permit a Wide check to be fed through the machine from front to rear beneath the inwardly projec-ting portions of the castings. The castings 22 form bearings for a shaft 28 which extends transversely the full Width of the 'machine and serves as a pivotal support for the moving parts of the machine. The moving parts of the machine are enclosed in a suitable casing formed of side frames 38 and 40, front sheet 32, and top and rear sheet 34. The latter part 7 of the casing has a sight opening 36 formed therein which may be. covered with glass, celluloid or similar transparent material. The mechanism of the machine is carried by the left and right-hand side frames 38 and I 40 which are pivotally mounted upon the.

shaft 28.

The differential key operated set-up mechanism will now be described. This mechanism comprises a plurality of digit keys 42, designated from 0 to 9, D01. and Cts. which are mounted upon key bars 44. As best illusrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the key bars are formed integrally with arcuate plates 46 which are slidably mounted on a pair of transverse rods 48 and 50, the ends of the rods being held inside plates 52 and 54. The portions 46 of the key bars are held against lateral movement and guided for movement in vertical planes by comb-like angles 56 and 58. Each of the portions 46 of the key bars has a pair of depending prongs 60 and 62 formed integrally therewith, the lower prong 60 fitting into a small aperture formed in one of the bails 64, which are pivotally mounted upon and between the side plates 52 and 54. Each of the key bars is held in its uppermost position by a tension spring 66, one end of which is secured to a small hook formed at the upper end of the key bail and the other end of which is anchored to a transverse rod 68. The spring 66 thus serves not only to hold the key bar in its uppermost position, but, through the proj ecting prong 60 of each of the key bars, tends to hold each of the bails 64 in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5. I

A cross'bar 70 is engaged between a small projection 72 formed on each of the bails 64 and a similar projection 7 4 formed at the lower end of the arms of each of the bails 64. These cross-bars 7 0 are guided for lateral movement in slots 7 6 formed in each of the side plates 52 and 54. Cover plates 78, secured to the outside of each of the plates 52 and 54, retain the bars 70 in position by preventing longitudinal movement thereof. One of the cross bars 71 is fixed in the side plates 52 and 54. r From the above description of the set-up mechanism, it will be understood that the depression of any one of the digit keys or of the dollars and cents keys will cause counterclockwise (Fig. 5) pivotal movement of its associated bail 64, and, through the engagement of the projection 72, depress the corresponding cross-bar 70. Upon release of the key, the spring 66 will return the key bar 44 to normal position and at the same time return the cross bar 70 to its uppermost position through clockwise movement of the bail 64; The portion 46 of each of the key bars 44 has a cutaway portion 80 forming a shoulder 82 overlying a bail 84 which is pivoted to the side plates 52 and 54. Depression of any one of the digit or dollars and cents keys, which may be termed the type character keys, will thus cause counterclockwise (Fig. 3) movement of the bail 84. The arms of the bail 84 are bell crank shaped, the rearwardly extending portions thereof being connected to plates 86, which are rotatably mounted upon the main shaft88, by links 90. A p air of links 92, each have one end pivotally connected to one of the plates 8.6 and the other end pivotally connected to a rod 94 which forms part of the escapement mechanism which will be hereinafter described. A plurality of discs 96, in the present illustrative machine, twelve in number, are mounted for free rotation upon the shaft 88. Each of these type discs has a crescent shaped slot 98 formed therein to provide space for a tension spring 100, one end of which is attached to an ear 102 projecting within thecrescent shaped slot and the other end of which is anchored upon a rod 104. The springs 100 are tensioned about the central portions of the type discs 96 and are prevented from lateral displacement by spacing washers 106, the peripheral edges of which are flared outwardly to form a trough in which the spring may rest. These washers also serve to space the type discs 96 properly. Each of the type discs carries a plurality of serrated type 108 which may be secured to the disc in any suitable manner, as by riveting, welding or solder. The type discs have a plurality of teeth 110 formed about substantially one-half their circumferential edges. These teeth mesh with the teeth of pinions 112 which are mounted for free rotation upon a shaft 114 which is secured between the side frames 38 and 40, and which are secured to numeral wheels 116 by rivets 118. 1 v

The type discs 96 are normally prevented from rotating under the influence of their springs 100 by latches 120 which are pivotally mounted upon a shaft 122 and have teeth 124 which are adapted to engage the teeth 110 of the type discs, being normally held in engagement therewith by springs 126 which are anchored to a transverse rod 128 and attached to arms 130 formed integrally with the latches 120. Each of the latches 120 has an upwardly and forwardly projecting tooth 132 Which normally lies in a position where it may be engaged in a notch 134 formed in the sliding escapemen-t member 136 which slides longitudinally on the rod 94. The member 136 hasa rearwardly projecting tooth 138 which is secured to the member 136 and is adapted to engage between escapement teeth 140 formed upon the upper edge of the cross-bar of a bail 142 which is mounted on the cross-rod 128, having slots 144 formed in its arms. The bail is thus capable of pivotal and limited lateral sliding movement, being normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. 5 by a tension spring 146 which is secured to a rod 148. A lever 150 (Fig. 2) is pivotally mounted upon a block 152 which is slidable upon the rod 148, the block being held against movement to theleft of the machine by a spacer 154. The upper end of the lever 150 has a slot 156 through which a screw 158, threaded in the escapement member 136, projects. A spring 160 is attached to the lower end of the lever 1.50 and is anchored to the side frame 38. This spring, it will be apparent, normal ly tends to move the escapement member 136 to the right of the machine, sliding it on the rod 94. Such movement is normally prevented by the engagement of the tooth 138 with one of the teeth 140 of the bail 142. Upon depression of any of the type character keys, as previously described, the rod 94 will be raised by the links 92 permitting the tooth 138 to pass over the restraining tooth 140 until the projecting lug 162, which is formed on the member 136, engages the sideface of the projection 132 of the next adjacent (to the right) latch 120 where it will be arrested.

lV-hen the escapement member 136 is raised, this tooth 162 raises the latch 120 beneath which the tooth happens to lie, thus releasing the type-disc 96 associated therewith and permitting the latter to rotate counterclockwise (Fig. 5) under the influence of its spring 100.

It will be noted that her 136 will thus successively release the type sectors from left to right, that is, what is normally considered the highest denominational order type disc is released first, the second highest denominational order type is released second, and so on. As each type sector is released, it rotates counterclockwise until it is arrested through engagement of its stop projection 164 with the cross-bar which has been moved to the inner end of its guiding slots 76. This action takes place upon the downward stroke of the key, and upon the upward stroke, the latch 120, through the engagement of its tooth 124 with the tooth 110 of the type disc which is in position beneath the tooth 124, holds the type sector in position, thus permitting the cross-bar 70 to be returnedto its normal position. As the type disc 96 rotates counterclockwise, it rotates its associated numeral the escapeinent memappear.

wheel 116 clockwise, :thus serving to indicate'the position at which the type disc has; been set, the numerals on the wheels 116 "idl attached to a main 0 cratin shaftl'ZO which is freely mounted in the side frames 38 and 40. A link 17 2, pivotally secured to the operating lever 168 adjacent the shaft 1.?0, has itsother end pivotally connected to a cam plate 174 which is, in turn, rotatable upon the main shaft 88, being held in proper position thereon. by suitable bushings and washers. The cam plate has a slot 17 6 formed adjacent its outer edge. A shouldered pin 178, rigidly driven into the arm 24, carries a roller which rides in slot 176. Ah arm 180, rigidly secured to the left-hand end of shaft 170 (Fig. 2), is connected with a cam plate and link similar to the plate 174 and link 172.

From the above description, it will be apparent that forward rocking movement of the operating handle will cause counter-- clockwise oscillation of the cam plates 174 on each side of the machine and through the engagement of the rollers on the pins 178 one on each side of the machine) cause lowering of'the shaft 88 and hence a similar movement of the whole mechanism contained witnin'the outer casing. This movement constitutes a downward oscillation about the shaft 28. A'pair'of cams 182 isrigidly secared to the sha t 180 adjacent the inner faces of the side frames 38 and 40. As best shown in Figs. 4 and 6, a pair of plates 184 is rotatably mounted near the ends of main shaft 88. Each of these plates carries a rearwardly projecting wipe-arm 186 which is pivotall connected to the plate 184 at a stud 188. The arm 186 normally rests upon a roller 190 which is secured to the end of a restoring rod 192, thelatter rod being carried by the plates 184. A torsional coil spring 194 has its innerendanchored to the shaft 88 and its outer end secured to the restoring rod 192, thus normally tending to swing the rod 192 and hence the plates 184 clockwise (Fig. 7) about the axis of the shaft 88. This swinging movement is'limited by a pair of stop arms 196 which is resiliently held in position for engagement with the restoring rod 192 by grasshopper springs 198 and are'fiXed to a rod 197 by screws 199. The left-hand stop arm 196 is formed integrally with a key bar 201, the purpose of which will hereinafter Upon forward oscillation of the operating lever 168, the cams 182 will be swung forwardly andengage the rear end portions of the wipe-arms 186, raising the latter and perm'itting'the endsof these cams to abut behind the notches 200 which are "lation of the operating lever 168, the cams will draw the wipe-iarms 186, rearwardly, thus rotating the plates 184 counterclockwise (Fig. 6) together with the restoring rod 192 and against the tension of spring 194. During this rearward movement of the wipearms 186 sidewardly projecting pins 202' formed near the ends of these wipe-arms engage in an irregular slot 204 formed between two plates 206 and 208 which are secured to the side frames 38 and 40. The shape of the slots 204 is such that the wipearm will be raised from the ends of the cams 182 and released therefrom adjacent the end of the rearward oscillatory stroke of the cams, thus permitting the spring 194 to return the plates 184 to normal position as shown in the drawings.

During the counterclockwise (Fig. 6) rocking movement of the restoring rod 192,'the rod will pick up all of the type discs 96 which may have been displaced from normal position, through engagement of the rod with the ears 162 on the type discs. The type discs will thus be rotated counterclockwise (Fig. 6) to normal position where they will again be latched by the latches 120.

Upon the forward rocking movement of the operating lever 168, a pin 210, rigidly secured in the operating shaft 170, will engage a depending flange 212- formed, integrally with or secured to the lever 150, and through this engagement return the lever 150 and the escapement mechanism, which is operably connected thereto, to normal position. A repeat key 214 is attached to the key bar 201, which, it will be remembered, is formed integrally with the stop arm 196, the ends of the stop arm 196 and its mate at the right-hand side of the machine serving to limit clockwise (Fig. 7) movement of the rod 192. Upon depression of the repeat key 214, the arms 196 will be raised, thus permitting the spring 194 to move the rod 192 clockwise a small distance. the movement being limited by the engagement of the rod 192 with the lower edge of the plate 86. Through the slight upward movement of the rod 192, the wipe-arms 186 will be raised sufliciently to prevent the engagement of their ends 200 by the cams 182 so that upon the forward and return oscillation of the operating lever, the restoring bar will remain stationary and hence the type sectors will be held in their positions by the latches 120. Suitable means, such as an L- shaped slot in the casing, may be provided to hold the repeat key depressed so that a plurality of like impressions may be made upon a number of checks in succession. A suitable logot pc 218, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, is rigidly secured to the shaft 88 and has type thereon which are adapted to engage the serrated platen 14 and thereby print and scarify the words The sum of 8 upon the amount line of the check, simultaneously with tpeprinting and scarifying of the amount inc 101a.

r The details of the operation of the machine have been described in connection with the detailed description of the construction so that but a brief resum of the method of operation need be added here. Let us assume a concrete example in that it is desired to pro tect a check, a portion of which is illustrated at 216, in Fig. 8, with the amount of $478.56. The operator will depress the-type character keys in the followingorder 4, 7, 8, dollars, 5, 6, and cents. Upon depression of these keys, the type disc's will be set with the type corresponding to the depressed key in position for printing above the platen 14. The first key depressed, 4, will set the leftmost type disc, the second key, 7, the second disc from the left, and so on. The dollars key will set the type disc of the fourth row in position to print the word and. VVhilethe dollars keybears the symbol D01, the type which is positioned upon the depression of this key will bear the word and, the difference in indicia being purely for the convenience of the operator since it makes possible the depression of the keys in accordance with the spoken order of the amount, that is, Four hundred seventy-eight dollars fiftysix cents. The type discs not actuated by the depression of the keys will, of course, have no type positioned above the platen 14 and will therefore leave that portion of the check lying beneath them blank.

One of the keys,,for example, the cents key, will not have the pair of lugs 60, 62 attached thereto but will merely serve to release the type disc and permit it to rotate freely until its projection 164 abuts against the stationary cross-bar 71. After the set-up has been completed, the operating handle is pulled forward and returned. Upon the forward stroke the machine casing and all the mechanism contained therein will be moved downwardly to bring the type on the discs 96in engagement with the platen 14 and thus im )rint and scarify the amount set up upon the check. Upon the return stroke of the operating handle, the casing will be raised and the type discs and the escapement mechanism reset to normal position by the cams 182 and the pin 210, respectively. If the repeat key 214 has been depressed previous to the return stroke of the operating handle, the wipe-arms 186 will be held so as not to be engaged by the cams 182 and thus prevent the restoration of the type discs to normal position. Thus a plurality of checks may be imprinted with the same amount merely by operation of the lever 168. Since the numeral wheels are geared directly to the type discs, they will also be returned to northe type discs are refollow.

I claim: 1. In a check writing machine,the combination of a plurality of differentially settable type carriers, an operating shaft, means for restoring said type carriers, a releasable driving connection between said operating shaft and said restoring mechanism, to

transmit power to the latter during the restoring opera-tion thereof, and a repeat key operable to disconnect said releasable connection thereby permitting said type to remain in set position. 7

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality of type carriers, means for difierentially setting said carriers, an oscillatory operating shaft, a cam arm carried by said shaft, means for restoring said type carriers, a hook member pivoted to said restoring means, said hook member being adapted to slide on said cam arm and to hook thereupon and be drawn with said cam upon the return oscillation of said operating shaft, and means including a cam slot forreleasing said hook from said cam adjacent the end of the return oscillation of said operating shaft.

3. In a device of combination of a plurality of type carriers, means for diiferentially setting said carriers, an oscillatory operating shaft, a cam carried by said shaft, means for restoring said type carriers, a hook member pivoted to said restoring mechanism, said hook member being adapted to slide on said cam to be coupled therewith and be drawn with said cam upon the return oscillation of said operating shaft, means including a cam slot for releasing said hook from said cam near the endof the return oscillation of said operating shaft, and selectively operable means for preventing the coupling of said hook member with said cam..

4. In a machine of the class described, a casing, selectively positioned printing means carried in said casing, 21 base, a platen rigidly secured thereto and means forfpivoting said a case to said base whereby said type carriers may be moved toward said platen to make a printing impression, said means comprising a pair of spaced brackets secured to said base at points remote from the sides of the casing thereby-forming a space to permit passage of the combination of a plurality the class described, the

checks between andjpartially beneath the 1Erackets andbetween said casing and said ase.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of type carrying elements, a projection on eachof said elements, a plurality of dcpressible keys, one for each of the type on said elements,a plurality of pivoted bails, each of said keys being associated with one of said bails and oper tively connected therewith, a plurality of stop bars, one associated with each of said bails, and adapted to be laterally moved upon pivotal movement of its associated bail so as to lie in the path of the projections on said type carrying elements, means actuated upon the depression of any one of said keys to release said elements, one after another, and resilient means associated with each of said elements for moving said element until said projection engages the laterally moved stop bar.

6. In a check. writer of the class described,

I of type hearing discs provided with teeth, a plurality of latches engaging the teeth on said discs, a selector for sequentially disengaging said latches from said teeth, resilient means for rotating a disc when released from its engagement with its associated latch, and means comprising a bar common to allof said discsfor arresting themotion of said disc in a position to print a desired char- .acter. V

7. In a check writer of the class described, a plurality of type bearing discs, a plurality of keys indicative of different type characters, a plurality of latches normally engaging the discs, a selector for sequentially rel asing the discs from said latches, means for causinga .rotative movement or". a released disc, means operated upon depression of a key for engaging and stopping said disc in a position to print the character indicated on said key, and means common to all of said keys for operating said selector.

8. In a check writer of the class described, a plurality of type bearing discs having pro jections thereon, a plurality of bars extendingparallel to the axes of the discs and near the peripheries thereof, each of said bars having a portion capable of engagement with each of said projections, a plurality of manually operable keys, means operated by the keys for depressing the one of said bars corresponding with the characterto be printed, and means including a spring for causing a rotative movement of one ofsaid discs until arrested by interengagement of the propec tion 011 the disc with adepressed bar.

9. In a check writer of the class described, a plurality of type character carrying'mcmbers having stops thereon, a plurality-of laterally slidable stop bars, one for each type character on said members, each of said bars f printed.

' a plurality of rotatable type carrying having a portion capable of engagement by each of said projections, means for moving said sectors seriatim to bring the type portion thereof into printing position, and selective means for moving said stop bars laterally into the path of the stops on said members, thereby to arrest the movement of said member and to select the characters to be 10. In a check writer of the class described, a plurality of type carrying discs having-stop lugs thereon, a plurality of stops, one for each of the type characters on the discs, each of said stops being arranged for co-operation with the lugs on each of the type carrying discs, teeth on said discs, latches engaging said teeth and normally preventing movement of the disc s, a selector adaptedto release said latches in progressive sequence, means for moving a disc when its associated latch is released by said selector, and selective means for positioning one of said stops to rrest the motion of the released disc.

11. In a check Writer of the class described, discs having stop lugs thereon, a plurality of stops one for each type character on the disc for co-operation with said lugs, teeth on said discs, latches engaging said teeth and normally preventing movement ofthe discs, a selector adapted to release said latches progressively, means for moving said discs when their associated latches are released, selective means for positioning one of said stops in position.

1 ing it to move in the path of the stop lugs or said discs, thereby to arrest the motion of the disc, and optionally operable means for restoring the selector and type bearing discs'to a normal 12. In a check writer oi the class described, a plurality of type bearing discs having stop lugs thereon, a plurc lity of stop bars one for each type character on the discs and adapted to be moved into the path of the lugs on the discs, rocker members engaging the stop bars and adapted to move the same, a plurality of keys each operatively connected with one of said rocker members, a reciprocable selector and type disc releasing mechanism adapted to be advanced from one disc to the next adjacent disc upon each movement of a key, and means for rotating the disc selected by the selector mechanism, the resulting motion of the disc being arrested by the engagement of the stop lug thereon with one of said stop bars, V

13. In a check Writer, a plurality of type carrying discs, each having a spring for urga given direction, means normally arresting the motion of said discs, key means for disengaging said last men tioned means to permit rotation of said discs, and temporary'stop means comprising a bar extending across the peripheral edges ofsaid discs and adapted to be depressed by said key means. 7

14. In a check Writer, a plurality of keys, each provided with a sliding bar, a plurality of type carrying discs, a plurality of bails disposed about the peripheral edges of said discs, each of said bails being operatively connected with one of said keys, a plurality of bars, each disposed to be moved toward and away from the edges of said discs by said bails, a spring associated with each of said discs normally tending to move it in a given direction, a latch for each disc, and connecting means between said keys and said latches whereby depression of a key causes temporary disengagement of one of said latches and arresting of said disc by the bar associated with the depressed key.

15. In a check writer of the class described, a plurality of type bearing discs having stop lugs-thereon, a plurality of stop bars one for each type character on the discs, said bars being adapted to be moved into the path of the stops on the discs, rocker members on gaging the stop bars and adapted to move the same, a plurality'of depressible keys each operatively connected with one of said rocker members, a selector mechanism adapted to be advanced one step by each depression of a key thereby to select a disc for operation, means for rotating the disc selected by said mechanism, the disc being arrested by the engagement of the stop lug thereonwith one of said stop bars, and means for returning the selector mechanism and discs to a normal position. y

16. In a check writer of the class described, the combination of a plurality of type bearing discs having stop projections thereon, a plurality of bars extending'parallel to the axes of said discs and near the peripheries thereof, a plurality'oi' manually depressible keys, a plurality'of pivotally mounted bail members each forming an operative connection between one of said keys and one of said bars-whereby depression of a key will cause its associated bar to be proj ected intothe paths of the projections on said discs, a bail oscillated upon the depression of any one of said keys, a latch normally holding each of said discs in operative position, a latch disengaging element movable for cooperation with any one of said latches, an escapement mechanism for said latch disengaging element,

and a connection between said bail, said latch disengaging element and said escapement mechanism whereby said latch disengaging element will be operated upon movementof said bail in one direction and said escapement mechanism permitted to advance said element to the next adjacentlatch upon movement of said bail in the opposite direction.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 22 day of Dec, 1927.

. JOHN W. OARLSON.' 

